Discovering the Underwater Realm
There is something irresistible about the ocean’s edge: that luminous line where certainty gives way to mystery. From 6 June to 1 November 2026, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands invites visitors to cross that threshold with Into the Ocean: Journey Beneath, a new multi-sensory exhibition presented in collaboration with OceanX. Equal parts expedition, artwork and environmental meditation, the experience plunges beneath the surface of the open ocean that few have seen.
The journey begins aboard OceanX’s state-of-the-art research vessel, the R/V OceanXplorer, before visitors descend through five immersive zones, from sunlit coral ecosystems to the darkness of the Aphotic Zone. Rare footage, deep-sea specimens and Singapore reef research sit alongside interactive works that translate ocean currents, sound, scent and movement into deeply atmospheric encounters. The result is not simply an exhibition to be viewed, but one to be experienced.
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Vivid footage of deep-sea creatures reveal the resilience and diversity of life in extreme deep-sea environments; The journey begins aboard the OceanXplorer research vessel, where visitors step virtually into a submersible; Resurface returns visitors to shallow coastal waters where seagrass meadows emerge, highlighting the variety of vital ecosystems that exist in the ocean; Coral Sonic Resilience by Italian artist Marco Barotti explores acoustic enrichment as a tool for ecological regeneration.
Internationally acclaimed artists and collectives including bit.studio, Jana Winderen, Lachlan Turczan, Marco Barotti, Marshmallow Laser Feast, Robertina Šebjanič and Sissel Tolaas lend the exhibition its poetic charge. Their works transform data, marine life and unseen environments into sensorial forms, while scientific contributions from institutions such as the National University of Singapore anchor the spectacle in research.
For Marina Bay Sands, this is more than cultural programming. Into the Ocean: Journey Beneath sits within a wider season of sustainability, positioning the integrated resort as a place where luxury is increasingly defined by purpose. Through its inaugural Meet the Experts session, Marina Bay Sands brought together voices from sustainability, curatorial practice and exhibition production to explore how hospitality, creativity and conservation can move in the same current.
That ambition is also engineered into the resort itself. Guided by Sands ECO360, its global sustainability strategy, Marina Bay Sands focuses on climate response, energy and water efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing, biodiversity, culture and certification. A S$50 million Intelligent Building Management System, powered by more than 125,000 sensors, monitors lighting, air-conditioning and water supplies in real time, refining daily operations with the precision of a living organism.
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Lucida by American artist Lachlan Turczan is an immersive light sculpture that responds in real time to form curving, rippling planes of light; Flock of by Thailand-based bit.studio is a suspended installation of kinetic helium-filled balloons in constant motion; Real specimens of deep-sea creatures such as the basket star wrapped around sea fan reveal the resilience and diversity of life in extreme deep-sea environments; Coral specimens uncovered during a deep-sea expedition on the OceanXplorer (Credit to © OceanX); Visitors are invited to reflect on one action they will take to protect the ocean’s ecosystems.
Water stewardship remains one of its clearest expressions. In 2025, Marina Bay Sands saved 13 million liters of water, doubling its original target. Its condensate recovery project recycles water from thousands of air-conditioning units for landscaping and water features, while smarter irrigation, filtration and restaurant efficiency initiatives continue to reduce consumption. Beyond the property, the Drop by Drop Project with WASH Foundation reinvests water savings into programs that strengthen resilience and raise awareness of marine ecosystem challenges.
“OceanX Education was created from a simple belief: people protect what they understand, and they understand what they can experience,” said Mark Dalio, Founder and Co-CEO, OceanX. It asks visitors to look closer, listen deeper and consider the systems that sustain beauty before it is lost. “We hope visitors leave not only with a sense of wonder at the ocean’s beauty, but with a deeper appreciation of its role in sustaining all life on Earth,” said Adrian George, Director of Programmes, Exhibitions and Museum Services at ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands.
For more information, please visit www.marinabaysands.com
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